Trolley-harp.



No. 739,223. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

H. A. RIPLEY. TROLLEY HARP.

APPLICATION rum) JAN. 2a, 1903.

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UNITED STATES HARRIE'A. RIPLEY, OF WESTDALE, MASSAOHUSETT S.

TROLLEY-HARP.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 739,223, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed January 26, 1903.; Serial No. 140.613. (N model.) I

. T o all whom it may concern:

- dale, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Harps, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to trolleys for electric-car systems of the overhead type, the pn rpose being to devise novel means to admit of the trolley-wheel turning with reference to ing the same from any cause; to mount the trolley-wheel soas to minimize the friction; to insure a positive connection between the trolley-wheel and harp, whereby the current is continuous, and, lastly, to provide a device which will operate satisfactorily, admit of repairs being quickly and cheaply made, and in which all the parts are accessible for any purpose.

For a full descriptilon of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and draw ings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a trolley-harp embodying the invention. View. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. 1 looking to the right, as indicated by the arrow. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of the spring connection forming an electric conductor between the trolley-wheel and the head. Fig. 5 is a side view of the trolley-wheel and bushing arranged therein and keyed thereto.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The harp or trolley-frame is composed, es-

Fig. 2 is a top plan .and are adapted to secure the harp or frame to the trolley-pole in an adjusted position,

thereby admitting of the frame being discon- Inected or applied to the pole at will. ,6 is arranged at the lower side of the stem 4 An eye Patented September 15, 1903. in;

PATENT FICIE.

1 sentially, of two parts, a head orfork 1 and a body 2, the'latter comprising a vertical bearing 3 and a stem 4, arranged at an angle with toreceive the rope or cord by means of which the trolley is operated in the accustomed way.

The head or fork 1 has a journal 7 at its lower end mounted in the bearing 3 and held therein by means of a pin 8, threaded oroth; erwise secured in a side of the bearing 3 and extended into a recess 9, formed in a side ofthe journal'7. The recess 9 is of a circumferential extent to admit of the head or fork 1 hav ing a limited movement in each direction. The journal 7 is hollow by preference, so as to receive and contain a quantity of oil, by means of which the bearing 3 is lubricated,

oil being supplied to the hearing by means of i an opening 10, formed in a side thereof near the upper end. The fork sidesor members are thickened at their upper ends, as shown at 11, and are vertically slotted, as shown at- 12, the thickened portions 11 forming reinforcements and being recessed in their outer sides to receive washers 13 and nuts 14, coop crating with the threaded ends of the axle 15,

upon which the trolley-wheell6 is mounted,

The head 1 and stem 4 are kept-in alinement by means of a pair of springs 17, which are of the coil type and constructed of spring-wire sufficiently stout to hold the parts from playing too freely. The coil-springs 17 are connected at one end to a stud 18, projected upward from the outer or rear portion of the stem 4, and are made fast at their upper forward ends to the crown of the fork or head 1 at opposite sides thereof, the springs being upwardly and forwardly diverged.

To prevent injurious contact of the springs 17 with the trolley-line in the. event of the trolley-wheel leaving the same, a guard 19 is provided and consists of a plate located above the stem 4and in advance of the trolley-wheel,

said plate being flared and slightly curved transversely and having the side end adjacent to the trolley-wheel made concave to admit of the flanges of said wheel projecting beyond a straight line touching the horns of the guard. Apost 20 is secured to or formed with the stem 4 and supports one end of theguard 19, the opposite end of said guard being secured to a lug 21, formed upon the topside of the stem 4 adjacent to its outer or rear end.

The trolley-wheel 16 is peripherally grooved and its sides made hollow and strengthened by ribs or flanges 22. A bushing 23 is fitted within the hub of the trolley-wheel and is secured therein against rotation by means ofa key 24, slipped into seats formed in corresponding portions of the bushing and hub. The opening of the bushing is enlarged at its ends to receive ball-bearings comprising cups 24, cones 25, and balls 26. The axle 15 passes through the bushing, and its threaded ends drop into the slots 12 in the thickened or reinforced ends of the fork and receive washers 13 and nuts 14, by means of which the parts are secured. Upon loosening the nuts 14 the trolley-wheel may be readily disconnected from the fork or applied thereto, as will be readily comprehended, the slots 12 facilitating this operation.

To preserve and maintain a continuity of the circuit under all conditions, a spring-conductor has been devised and interposed between the trolley-wheel and fork, so as to cated in the crotch of the fork and in the space formed between the flanges of the trolley-wheel.

Having thus described the invention, is claimed as new iswhat 1. 'In a trolley, the combination of a harp comprising abody portion and a fork, thelatter journaled to said body and having a limited lateral turning, a spring connection between the said fork and body, and a guard secured to said body in advance of the trolley-wheel and above the spring connection and comprising a flared plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a trolley for electric car systems, the combination of a body portion and fork relatively journaled, coil-springs secured at one end to the bodyand at the opposite end to opposite sides of the fork, a lug and post pro- ,iected upward from the stem of the body, and a guard secured to said lug and post and flared throughout its length and transversely curved between its edges, the wide end adjacent to the trolley-wheel being made concave, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina trolley for electric-car systems, a fork having the end portions of its side members thickened or reinforced, recessed in their outer sides and slotted, an axle having its end portions fitted in said slots, a trolleywheel mounted upon the axle, and washers and nuts applied to the threaded ends of the axle and adapted to enter the recesses in the outer sides of the reinforced fork ends, substantially as specified.

4. In a trolley for electric-car systems and in combination with the harp, a trolley-wheel journaled thereto, an electric spring-conductor secured at one end comprising aspriug of approximately U form, said spring being secured at one end to the harp and having a contact-shoe disposed at the opposite end and adapted to bear against the trolleywvheel, the end portions of said 'shoe being rounded, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I-IARRIE A. RIPLEY. [L. 3.]

YVitnesses:

ALEXANDER M.- GARDNER, EVERETT W. BLANCHARD. 

